"Organisations need to not just be non-racist, they need to be anti-racist"
The Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Sport has said the racist slurs used against Azeem Rafiq should've been challenged by more people
The Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Sport has said the racism allegations against Yorkshire County Cricket Club are not just about individuals.
It's as a hearing was held yesterday (Tuesday 16 November) where former player Azeem Rafiq discussed how racial slurs used against him affected his mental health.
Azeem Rafiq fought back tears as he told MPs the P-word was "used constantly" during his two spells at Yorkshire County Cricket and accused leadership of failing to challenge it.
But David Watson, Chief Executive at North Yorkshire Sport, said:
"The more we talk about this and the fact it isn't acceptable the easier it is for people to challenge behaviour, either that they're experiencing themselves or that they're witnessing other people experience.
"There are players who have been involved, not necessarily who have been racist themselves, but they haven't challenged the behaviour and we really have got to be anti-racist and be really proactive.
"If I'm sat in a changing room I have to have the confidence to call that out knowing that I'm still going to get picked for the team the next week and the only way I know that will happen is if the club I'm at is one of no tolerance.
"The more we talk about this and the more we bring it out into the open then I hope the more confidence people will have to say 'hang on, that isn't acceptable behaviour or language' and that it shouldn't be tolerated and these people aren't welcome in sport."
Rafiq first alleged racial harassment and bullying against the county and accused them of institutional racism in September last year.
The club began an investigation soon after and found he was victim of "racial harassment and bullying".
But it was heavily criticised after deciding not to take disciplinary action, with major sponsors pulling out of the club.
Rafiq told MPs on Tuesday: "Pretty early on at the club, I joined a dressing room full of my heroes, Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard, part of the 2005 Ashes team. And it was just the most surreal moment for me.
"Pretty early on, me and other people from an Asian background...there were comments such as 'you'll sit over there near the toilets', 'elephant washers'. The word P*** was used constantly. And there just seemed to be an acceptance in the institution from the leaders and no one ever stamped it out."
Senior figures from the England and Wales Cricket Board, and former Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton, are also due to give evidence.